What is CVS maintenance choice? A guide to 90-day prescription refills

October 11, 2025 •

4 min read

According to CVS Health, millions of Americans depend on maintenance medications to manage long-term health conditions. The CVS Caremark Maintenance Choice program is a benefits feature designed to help these individuals more conveniently and affordably receive their long-term prescriptions by offering 90-day supplies.

Quick Summary

The CVS Maintenance Choice program is a feature from CVS Caremark that allows eligible members to receive 90-day supplies of maintenance medications via mail or at a CVS Pharmacy, often with a lower copayment.

Key Points

What is CVS maintenance choice?: A program managed by CVS Caremark that enables members to fill 90-day supplies of long-term medications.
Two Convenient Options: Members can choose between free home delivery through the CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy or in-person pickup at a local CVS Pharmacy.
Significant Cost Savings: Generally, members pay a lower copayment for a 90-day supply compared to filling three separate 30-day supplies.
Improved Adherence: Receiving a larger supply of medication at once helps ensure consistent usage, which is crucial for managing chronic conditions.
Expanded Retail Network: Depending on the plan, the program may include other participating pharmacies, such as Kroger and Costco, in addition to CVS.
How to Start: To begin, you must get a 90-day prescription for your maintenance medication from your doctor.
Opt-Out Option: Some plans allow members to opt-out and continue with 30-day fills, but this may result in higher out-of-pocket costs.

Understanding the CVS Maintenance Choice Program

The CVS Maintenance Choice program is a feature of many health plans managed by CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) arm of CVS Health. It is specifically designed to facilitate the refilling of maintenance medications—those used to treat chronic or long-term conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma. The core of the program is to shift members from filling 30-day supplies to receiving more convenient and often more affordable 90-day supplies.

Historically, the program was mandatory for some plans, requiring members to use a CVS pharmacy or mail service after a limited number of 30-day fills. However, some plan designs have transitioned this to a voluntary program, though it remains incentivized through cost savings. Members are typically notified by their health plan or CVS Caremark when it's time to transition to a 90-day fill.

How the Program Works

Participating in the Maintenance Choice program involves a simple process once your doctor has written a 90-day prescription. The program offers two primary methods for receiving your medications, giving you flexibility based on your preference.

The Two Main Options for Filling 90-Day Prescriptions

CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy: This option provides free, secure home delivery of your maintenance medications. Many members choose this for its convenience, especially those who prefer not to make regular trips to the pharmacy. It also includes features like automatic refills and order tracking.
In-Store Pickup at a CVS Pharmacy: For those who prefer to pick up their prescriptions in person, the program allows you to fill your 90-day supply at any CVS Pharmacy location. This is ideal for patients who like to speak with a pharmacist directly or pick up medications while running other errands.

The Refill Process Explained

Get a 90-Day Prescription: The first step is to ask your doctor to write a new prescription for a 90-day supply of your maintenance medication. This prescription can include refills as needed.
Notification and Transition: CVS Caremark typically notifies members when they are approaching the limit of 30-day retail fills for a maintenance medication. This communication prompts you to get the 90-day prescription from your doctor.
Choose Your Option: Once you have the 90-day prescription, you decide whether to use mail service or in-store pickup. For mail service, you can set up the order online or by phone. For in-store pickup, you can send the new prescription directly to a CVS Pharmacy.

Benefits of Using Maintenance Choice

Enrolling in the Maintenance Choice program offers several advantages for managing chronic conditions:

Convenience and Time Savings: Fewer pharmacy visits and the option for home delivery save valuable time. With auto-refills, there is less stress about remembering to order medications.
Cost-Effectiveness: Filling a 90-day supply often results in a lower overall copay than paying for three separate 30-day supplies. This can lead to significant cost savings over the year.
Improved Adherence: Having a larger supply of medication on hand reduces the risk of running out, which is crucial for staying on track with chronic care management.
Expanded Network: While named for CVS, the program sometimes includes other pharmacies, such as Kroger and Costco, allowing for additional retail pickup locations depending on your specific plan.

Comparison: Maintenance Choice vs. Standard Retail Fills

To better illustrate the differences, here is a comparison of the key features of the Maintenance Choice program versus standard retail prescription fulfillment:

What if I Prefer 30-Day Fills?

If you prefer to continue with 30-day fills, many plans allow you to opt-out of the Maintenance Choice program. However, opting out may mean foregoing the cost savings associated with 90-day fills, and your monthly copay could be higher. It is important to confirm your plan's specific rules regarding opt-out procedures and the associated costs by contacting CVS Caremark customer service.

Conclusion

The CVS Maintenance Choice program provides a structured way for individuals with chronic conditions to manage their ongoing medication needs more effectively. By offering 90-day supplies through either convenient mail-order delivery or in-store pickup at CVS and other select pharmacies, the program helps members save money and time while promoting better medication adherence. While it's important to understand your plan's specific rules, transitioning to this program can significantly streamline the process of managing long-term prescriptions. For more information, including how to check your specific drug costs, visit the CVS Caremark website and use their tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

A maintenance medication is a prescription drug used to treat a chronic or long-term health condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or asthma.

To switch to a 90-day prescription, you must ask your doctor to write a new prescription for a 90-day supply of your maintenance medication. You can then fill it through CVS Caremark Mail Service or at a participating retail pharmacy.

Most plans allow for a limited number of 30-day fills at any network pharmacy, typically two or three, before requiring the transition to a 90-day supply through the program. After this, a 30-day fill may not be covered or may cost significantly more.

If you don't transition to a 90-day fill via the program after your initial 30-day fills, you may be required to pay the entire cost of the medication out-of-pocket at a standard retail pharmacy, depending on your plan's specific rules.

No, the program only applies to maintenance medications used for long-term conditions. Short-term medications, like antibiotics, are still filled for a 30-day or smaller supply at any participating network pharmacy.

Yes, standard shipping for maintenance medications from CVS Caremark Mail Service is typically at no extra cost.

To opt-out, you need to contact CVS Caremark Customer Care at the number on your member ID card. Be aware that opting out may mean forgoing the cost savings of the 90-day supply.

In addition to all CVS Pharmacy locations and CVS Caremark Mail Service, the network often includes other select pharmacies like Kroger and Costco, depending on your specific plan benefits.